Queensland poised to legalise Euthanasia

Queenslanders with a terminal illness will legally be able to end their lives from next year when the bill on voluntary assisted dying passes into law today. 

59 of the state's 93 MPs indicating they will support the bill that will allow people suffering a disease, illness or medical condition that is advanced, progressive and terminal to access to voluntary-assisted dying (VAD).

What do you think? Is this a progressive step forward for Queensland joining other states with Euthanasia laws? 

6 comments

Queensland Parliament passes voluntary assisted dying bill

Queensland will become the fifth state to legalise voluntary assisted dying (VAD) after state Parliament passed the historic bill.

The new laws — which are not set to take effect until January 2023 — will allow people aged 18 and older who are expected to die within 12 months, and who meet strict eligibility criteria, to seek medical assistance to end their lives.

In NSW residents who assist with euthanasia currently face jail time

Why is our Premier so backward ???  she broke with Armenian Apostolic Church when she supported gay marriage back in 2017 .. so it seems unlikely it is because of religion

 

 

There may be some issues with the new laws.  Many people with advanced neurological illnesses lose both fine motor skills and speech.  They may be unable to sign their names or verbally communicate their wishes, both required under the proposed law.  This happened to my wife in the final stages of her long journey with cortico basal syndrome.  She spent more than a month suffering at the end.  She wanted to die, but the proposed Queensland law would not have helped her.  Maybe a rethink is necessary?

About time people get treated as well as some animals!  When an animal is badly hurt they euthanise them, why not with people, and why wait for 12 months of suffering!  Sadly, suicide if that person was able to achieve it, would still be a better solution than months of suffering!

I agree its ridiculous to have to wait 12 months. In the Netherlands you can go when you want to as long as you pass the required  medical interviews and are of sound mind you don't even have to be terminally ill;  if you've had enough, especially as you age, it's a personal choice.

South Australia already has this law. I think that for some it may be a good thing if they definitely want to use it. However for myself it is not acceptable as it is against my religion and is either suicide if you do it yourself or murder if someone assists you. I also hope I never have to make that choice. Where there is life there is hope.????

Buggsie and Mandy both make excellent points. My mum had Parkinson's Disease and would also have been unable to sign a consent form.  But another serious problem with these laws is: why must a gp certify that the patient will likely die within 12 months (or any other period)?  The amount of time they have left is irrelevant.  What matters is their future quality of life. Once you are no longer able to do any of the things that you once enjoyed, life becomes a misery. My poor mum, once a proud Mensa member, completely lost her short term memory so could no longer play Scrabble, read a crime thriller, or even hold a conversation.  But when I told her that our dog had to be killed due to the pain of incurable cancer, her bitter- and telling- reply was: "They do it for a dog but they won't do it for me".

Exactly Viv.

My body, my choice!

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